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Straight Up Thanks

Reading you over the years has absolutely changed my mind on gay marriage. I wanted to let you know that. I also live in Maryland, and, as you know, we voted last week to allow same-sex couples to legally marry. I was excited that I got to vote for marriage equality in my home state, Dan—even I agree that it's fucked up that people get to vote on the civil rights of LGBT people at all. Thanks for all your writing over the years—it's really made a difference in my love and sex life. And congrats to you and all gay people in the United States for the big wins last week in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State.

Just Some Straight Guy

There's something I want to say about the votes—and about the voters—in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State. But first I want to say this to all my fellow queers: We built this. The breakthroughs we saw last week, which included the election of the first openly gay person to the United States Senate (Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin), we made that. LGBT people came out, fought back, and changed the world. We have a fuck of a lot left to do—repeal DOMA, pass ENDA, unfinished business with DADT (trans people are still barred from serving), defending the rights of queers around the world—but LGBT people have made tremendous progress since Stonewall. It has gotten better for us because we came out and fought to make it better. We demanded better.

Now here is what I want to say to straight people: Thank you.

I know so many straight people in Washington State, where I live, who worked unbelievably hard on the campaign to win marriage equality for their gay and lesbian friends, family members, and neighbors. I know straight people in all four states who voted, gave money, worked phone banks, and knocked on doors—all in an effort to make it possible for same-sex couples to marry.

Gays and lesbians are a tiny percentage of the population. And while we laid the groundwork for the breakthroughs we saw last week in Maine, Maryland, Washington, and Minnesota—we built this—we didn't build it on our own. The majorities in the state legislatures in Maine, Maryland, and Washington that voted to make same-sex marriage legal? Straight. The governors who signed laws making same-sex marriage legal? Straight. The overwhelming majority of people who voted in favor of marriage equality in all three states after anti-gay bigots forced public votes on our civil rights? Straight. The majority that voted against writing anti-gay bigotry into Minnesota's state constitution? Straight. And the president who took a huge political risk and came out for marriage equality before his reelection campaign? Straight. It has gotten better for us—better, not perfect—but it hasn't gotten better for us in a vacuum. It's gotten better for us because straight people have gotten better about us.

Rights are rights. They shouldn't be put up for a vote. And we shouldn't have to say "thank you" when they're recognized. The sad fact is that we have had to fight for our rights. But here's the happy fact: We didn't have to fight this one alone. Thousands and thousands of straight people stood with us and fought for us. We had help. And that's what we should thank the straight people for. Not for granting us our rights—rights are rights are rights—but for joining our fight.

Last week on my blog, I floated the idea of having a big party for all the straight people who came through for us in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington State. But all those straight people wouldn't fit in a single ballroom. But we can fit them on a single Tumblr page. Queers? If you know a straight person in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, or Washington—if you know a straight in any state or the District of Columbia—who donated money, phone-banked, went door-to-door, or took a political risk on our behalf, take your picture with that straight person, write a few words about what they did, and post it to www.straightupthanks.tumblr.com.

We saw a huge breakthrough in the struggle for LGBT equality last week. And it wouldn't have happened without the help of so many righteous, kick-ass straight people. I'll bet every queer person reading this knows a straight person who they should thank. I certainly do. Thank them in a public way: Go to www.straightupthanks.tumblr.com, click "submit a post," share a photo, and thank a straight ally.

Because we literally couldn't have done it without them.

Dear Dan:

I am a twentysomething bi guy who loves sucking cock. I especially enjoy when the recipient really enjoys himself (which is often) (not to gloat) (but I just did). Anyway, my problem is that I don't really enjoy receiving. I have received head from three guys, which I realize is not a large sample size, but every time it has been a nonevent. It's almost like I can't even feel a mouth on my dick. How do I fix this?

Blowjob Boredom Blues

In sex comedies, sitcoms, and porn, head is always presented as the ultimate sexual experience, but in reality, some men just don't dig head. But three cocksuckers is a pretty small sample. Let a few other guys suck your dick—let 'em fall face-first on your sword—but don't stress out if nothing changes. It could be a preference, BBB, and not a malfunction.

Dear Dan: My wife and I have been together for 20 years. I love to receive oral, but my wife has no interest when I try to return the favor. She claims it does nothing for her. We celebrated Obama's reelection with a bottle of wine in the bedroom. When I made a move downstairs, she didn't stop me. However, she said it tickled her like crazy. Is this common? Is there something I can do to make this experience less hilarious for my wife?

What's So Funny?

Some women struggle with hang-ups or body issues that make it difficult for them to relax and enjoy being on the receiving end of oral sex. But some women who don't struggle with hang-ups or body issues simply don't enjoy receiving oral sex. If your wife is generally comfortable in her own skin and with her own body, WSF, you may have to take her word for it when she says that oral sex does nothing for her. But if it truly does nothing for her—"nothing" would include "annoy" and "turn off"—maybe she can lie back and enjoy what it does for you.

Dear Dan: I am a 22-year-old female who's only ever achieved orgasm during fellatio, and my boyfriend will not perform fellatio on me! I have tried bringing it up during sex, but he didn't cooperate. He told me that he didn't want to do that to me because a mutual female friend told him that I didn't want him to do that to me. I did tell her that at the beginning of our relationship, but I don't feel that way anymore! I'm way too embarrassed now to ask again, because it would feel like I was begging him for fellatio. Please help me!

Need To Get Mine

Try asking your boyfriend for cunnilingus, NTGM, not fellatio. If that doesn't do the trick—if he doesn't start eating your pussy—then DTMFA.